Travel Envy

I'm not usually a jealous - or envious - person. I'm sincere when I compliment someone on something new they've acquired, or somewhere they're going. However, yesterday I'll admit I was pinched a bit by the green-eyed monster.

My son popped in unexpectedly (a somewhat infrequent yet regular occurrence, and no way am I complaining because truth to tell I always love seeing him as well as the fact that he still feels so familiar with me - Mom - that he shows up whenever he pleases). However, I digress. The point was, he showed up because he was in the area on a corporate retreat, and his friends were picking him up on their way to a weekend at the Madonna Inn.

As fabulously kitsch as the Madonna is, I wasn't particularly envious of that,  I was envious of the road trip, and the area being visited.

The Central Coast of California is an area I once regularly frequented.  My dad retired there, and my youngest sister lived nearby. I made my final familia visit a few years ago, and I've rarely been back, and when that has occurred it's been on a pass-thru basis.

I used to go on road trips much more frequently (see number five on the Eight Random Facts About Me meme that circulated a while ago).  I recently went to New York City and Hawaii within a year, so it isn't as though I'm actually travel deprived.

I do miss road trips, though, and now that my car's ten years old I'm more sparing with the miles I put on it. So I grouse and feel envious. And mentally plot a doable road trip before I explode.

Comments

[Erin]

I lived at Vandenberg AFB and worked in Santa Maria for 2 years in the early nineties. It's gorgeous there. The only part of California I really got to know. Sure like that coastline driving... Know exactly what kind of road trips your talking about. :-)

[shaunna]

ah, Sideways country. a marvelous idea for a road trip, santa rita hills here i come.

[Pseudo]

I could sure go for a road trip. I miss going up there with you.

[Twenty Four At Heart]

As you know, I love, love, love the central coast. The madonna inn ... well, it certainly is something everyone should see once. Ha!